Sand-feeding mechanism



May 8, 1923. 1,454,438

' H. W. B. GRAHAM SAND FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 5, 1918 3Sheets-v-Sheet 1 E I o 0 *Hill o O O [22 Veniceailorneu MxfiM May 8,1923. 1,454,438

' H. w. B. GRAHAM SAND FEEDING MECHANISM Original FiledSept. 5, 1918 3Sheets-Sheet 2 a f1; Vania?" m 1%. 0 M @Y @W/fi? aiioz ney bor costs arereduced Patented May 8, 1923.

warren stares,

1,454,433 PATENT; oFFi-le.

HENRY XV. B. GRAHAM, OF NEXV-IONDON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T'O-THE.ARNOLD-CREAGER COMPANY, OF NEW LONDON,

OHIO, A CORPORATION vOF OHIO;

SAND-FEEDING: lvinonanrs a.

Application filed September 5, 1918 Serial No. 252,682. RenewedSeptember 14;, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. B. GRAHAM, acitizen of the United States, residing at New London, in the county ofHuron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Sand-Feedin Mechanism, of Whichthefollowing is a specification.

My inventionrelates to a brick naking machine and particularly themechanism for supplying sand for the empty molds.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for deliveringsand to the mold sanding mechanism, whereby the .sand can be properlyfed and regulated to avoid aste and insure eliiciencyof operation.

Another object of the invention, isto, provide improved means fordelivering sand to the mold sanding mechanism wherebyla and a uniformsupply of sand maintained.

Another object of the invention is to, provideimproved' means forautomaticallysupplying sand to the sand chamber of a sanding mechanism.

Anotherobject of the invention. isto, provide improved sand feeding.means for a sanding mechanism and. :to. operatively connect suchmeanswiththebrick machine, whereby thesand is replenished .in the sandchamber substantially. as fastas itis used for sanding the molds.

Other objects of the invention Will be apparentto those skilled intheart to which my invention relates from thefolloiving description takenin. connectionwvith "the .accompanying drawings.

I have applied my invention, to apparatus wherein the molds are moved inanendless series to the filling, bumping, separating and sandingmechanisms, such for exampleas disclosed in my Letters. Patent of the.United States No. 1,341,798,patented June 1st,

For the purpose of illustration I have, in

the accompanying drawings, shown. andv herein described one form ofmechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofa brick male ing machine and a sandingmechanism having a sand delivery mechanism embodying my invention- Fig.2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1.

a s mi. No. 5 0,719.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a side view and feeding mechanism In the drawings, 1indicates'as an entirety a briclemakingmachine, preferably of the softmud, horizontal pug mill type. 2 indi-v cates the pug shaft extendinglongitudinally of the pug mill 1 and driven. by suitable mechanismindicated as an .entirety at 3.

4 indicates the charging chamber-inwhich a press platenoperates to forcethematerial through a die (not shown) into suitable molds A. 5indicatesa support to andover of the sand control partlv broken away. I

which the molds are moved, first to a position to be filled, andthen to.positions for bumping and emptying respectively. 6 indicates a mold pushout connected t'oand reciproeated by a piti nan 6?, which isoperated bythe driving mechanism 3, inv any suitable manner.

7 indicates as an entiretyasandingmechanism to which themolds aredelivered after they are emptied. Of this mechanism, 7 indicates a sand,chamber havingside alls 7* and a bottom and reargwall 7. The Wall 7 maybe curved about the axis of the chamber to serve as a guide for themolds A,and to invert them, at least partially, to permit the loose orsurplus sand to fall back into the chamber. 7 indicates revolvingmembers which engage and move the molds through the chamber 7. Therevolving members are preferablyso constructed that they tend to shovelthesand into the molds as they move through the chamber. On its rearsideand near its. opposite ends the rear wall 7 is formed with a pluralityofopenings 7 (two being shoWn) to which are connected thein ner ends ofsupply pipes8, respectively. 9 indicatesthe sand receiving. hoppers, onefor each pipe ,8, to which ,the upper ends of the .pipes8 are connected.The hoppers t), may

may be secured to the framework 1 of the machine 1 in any well knownmanner.

10 indicates a receptacle, tank or bin into which a supply of sand maybe placed. From the supply bin 10 leads achute or pipe 10 the lower endof which is connected to a sand control and feeding mechanism, indicated as an entirety at 11. The sand placed in the bin 10 flows downthe pipe 10 to the feeding mechanism 11, which in turn operates to feedthe sand to the sand chamber 7 as fast, or substantially as fast, as thesand is removed therefrom as a result of its contact with and adherenceto the walls of the molds.

Of the sand control and feeding mechanism, 11 indicates a casingcomprising a rear wall 11 a front wall 11, and side walls 11, preferablyformed integrally and forming a conduit 12. The rear wall 11 may besecured to the adjacent frame member 1 of the brick machine 1 by aplurality of bolts 11. 12 indicates a wall arranged to divide theconduit into two branch conduits 12 12 to correspond to the number offeed or supply pipes 8, connected to the sand chamber 7. The walls 12,11 and 11 are preferably integrally connected together and formed with atransverse opening 13, for a purpose to be later set forth. The sandflowing down the pipe 10 enters the conduit 12 and then flows into thebranch conduits 12 12 indicates openings formed in the front wall 11,one for each conduit. 12 through which the sand flows from the branches12 as will be later described.

The walls surrounding the upper end of the conduit 12 are suitablyshaped to receive and have connected to them the lower end of the chute10 in any well known manner. 14 indicates a plate adapted to close thelower ends of the branchconduits 12*. The plate 14 is connected to asupport 15 preferablv formed integrally with the casing 11. The plate 14is arranged to close the lower ends of the conduits 12. but may be movedor adjusted relative to the rear wall 11 to form larger or smalleropenings at the lower ends of the conduits 12 (see Figs. 8 and 9) andthus permit a larger or smaller amount of sand to escape therefrom intothe hoppers 9, when desired. I

The purpose of the valve plate 14 is to permit a quantity of sand toflow into the sand chamber 7* to condition the apparatus for immediateoperation when starting. In practice, it is customary to clean out thesand chamber several times each day. Accordingly, in re-starting theapparatus the valve plate 14 permits the operative to feed sufficientsand direct to the sand chamber 7 a and thus provide an adequatequantity to effect sanding of the molds, without the necessity ofrunning the apparatus long enough to supply sand by the automaticfeeding means about to be described. The control plate 14 is preferablyslidably connected to the support 15 by a plurality of bolts 14. Theplate 14 is formed with an elongated slot 14 which permits it to bemoved or adjusted.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the support 15 extends horizontally beyondthe opposite sides of the casing 11 Along its front edge and also alongits rear edge, at opposite sides of the casing, the support 15 is provided with vertical side walls 15 15 15*, which with the support 15 forma trough or shelf 15 to receive the sand flowing through the openings 12The plate or side wall 15 may be connected to the support 15 by aplurality of bolts 15 while the side walls 1 may be cast integrally withthe walls of the casing 11. .16 indicates a rock shaft mounted in theopening 13. The inner end of the shaft extends through an opening 1formed in the adjacent frame member 1*.

17 indicates as an entirety operating connections between the rock shaft16 and an operating element or member of the brick machine. Theconnections 17 are preferably operated by some element of the brickmachine which operates or controls the movement of the molds A, such forinstance as the mold push out 6, so that the feeding of the sand will bedependent thereupon and be in proportion to the number of molds operatedupon. Of these connections 17 indicates an arm carried by the inner endof the rock shaft 16. The hub 17* of the arm is preferably secured tothe rock shaft 16 by a set screw 17. The arm 17 depends downwardly farenough, so that its lower or free end is disposed in the path ofmovement of two spaced tappets 18, 18, carried by the mold push-out 6. IEach tappet 18 may com prise an angle member the foot section of whichmay be adj ustably secured to the push out 6 by a bolt 18 For thispurpose the foot section of each tappet is formed with an elongated slot18 (see Fig. 2) through which the adjacent bolt extends. As the moldpush-out 6 reciprocates, the tappets engage with and move the arm 17 inopposite directions, and it in turn rocks the shaft 16 in the bearingopening 13. The shaft 16 may be formed with an oil duct 16* to which oilis supplied by a cup 19.

20 indicates a pusher secured to the outer end of the shaft 16, wherebyit is swung back and forth thereby. The pusher may be secured to theshaft by a set screw 20 As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, the pusher 20 extends down into the trough or shelf and moves longitudinally thereof, asit swings back and forth, to shove or push the sand, which flows throughthe openings 12 onto the shelf, toward its opposite ends. As the shaft16 is arranged in a vertical plane disposed between the openings 12",the pusher will alternately engage the masses of sand llll whichaccumulate on the trough 15 oppositevthe openings 12 and push the sand,to- Wards the opposite ends of the trough from which it will fall intothe hoppers 9 and flow through the pipes-8 to the chamber 21 indicatesvalve plates, one for each opening 12?; The plates 21 may be raised andlowered to close or regulate the size of the openings 12 and therebycontrol the supply of sand to the trough 15. Each plate 21 is formedWith an elongated slot 21 through which a bolt 22 extends to slidablyand adjustably connect the plate to the front wall 11. At its upper endeach valve plate 21 is bent outward to form a handle to facilitate itsadjustment. The wall 11 maybe provided with a rib 23, the side Walls ofwhich serve as guides for the plates 21. As the plates are independentlyadjustable, the amount of sand flowing through the open ings 12 can becontrolled according to the amount required at different portions of thechamber 7. i Vhile I prefer to control the sand delivered to the hoppers.9 by means of the plates 21, the supply can also be advantageouslycontrolled by adjusting the pusher 2O angularly on the rock shaft 16,whereby it will swing farther to one side of the vertical plane cuttingthe shaft 16 than to the other side thereof, and also by adjusting thel'appets 18 on the push out 6 to give the pusher 20 a longer or shorterthrow.

In the operation of a mold sanding mechanism, it is advantageous to atall times maintain a certain amount of sand in the sand holding chamberthrough which the molds pass. To avoid waste as well as to insureefficiency, this quantity should not be too much or too little; Myinvention is designed not only to automatically feed the sand to thesand chamber but to feed it thereto in proportion to the amount beingused for sanding the molds, whereby a supply of any required quantitycan at all times be maintained in the sand holding chamber. It will beseen that I accomplish these results by opei'atively connecting thefeeding mechanism with the mold push-out 6, which controls the forwardfeed of the molds and thereby determines how fast and how many moldsshall pass through the sand chamber 7*. Accordingly, the sand is fed tothe sand chamber 7 in proportion to the number of molds passing therthrough; by regulating or adjusting the openings 12*, or other adustments above described, or both, the quantity of sand fed to thechamber can be adequately controlled to insure efficiency and asubstantially uniform supply thereto equal to the amount being takenfrom the passage of themolds successively and continuously therethrough.

The feeding mechanism operates to feed the sand substantially uniformlyand continuously to the hoppers 9 and pipes 8. By

adjusting the valve 'tions in construction the chamber by plates 21 theamount of sand flowing through-theopenings 12 can be increased ordecreased'thereby providing for an increased or decreased supply to thechamber 7*, as may be desired; by adjusting the plates to form differentsized openings delivered to different portions 12', the sand of thechamber can bevaried.

In addition to the extent in the operation of the apparatus sinceallmanual labor required to look after more, waste of mum and the molds areproperly sanded since an adequate supply of sand is con stantlymaintained in the sand chamber.

To those skilled in the art of making mechanism of the class described,many alteraand widely differing embodiments and applications of myinvention will suggest themselves Without departing from the spirit andvscope thereof. My

disclosures and the description. herein are purely illustrative and notintended to be p in any-sense limiting. j H a No 01211111 is made to theherein disclosed mechanisms for bumping, inverting, separating andsandingthe molds and separating the'molds and bricks as they form thesub ect-matter of my companion applications Ser. Nos. 228,6lO 81,425,83,052 and What I claim is:

1. 1n mechanism of the class described, the comb nation with abrick'machine and a sanding mechanism therefor, of a source of sandsupply, a conduit leading intol the chamber of said sanding mechanism,mechanism having a movable element engaging said source of supply fordis sand from charging it into said' conduit, and means for operatingsaid. movable element.

In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine and a sanding mechanism thereforyof a source 1 a conduit leadinginto the of sand supply, chamber of said sanding mechanism, mechanismincluding a movable element engaging sand from saidsourceof supply fordischarging it into saidconduit, means for adjusting said movableele nent, and means for operating said movable element.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a. brickmachine and a sandingjmechanism therefor, of a source of sand supply,mechanism haying a movable element engaging sand from said source ofsupply foi' disohai'gingiit to said sanding mechanism. means forcontrolling the. supply of sand from sa d source of supply, and

means for. operatingsaid movable element.

i In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachineand a advantages; above referred to, it will also be understoodthat 1 am enabled to reduce labor costs to a material sanding mechanismtherefor, of a source of means for adjusting said movable element,

andnieans for operating said movable element.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a brickmaking machine, a sanding mechanism, a sand supply bin, a conduit forsand leading from said bin, a trough into which the sand flows from saidconduit, means, connected to and operated by said. brick machine, forfeeding the sand from said trough into the chamber or said sandingmechanism.

6. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a moldsanding mechanism having a sand chamber and a teed pipe connectedthereto. of a source of sand supply including a chute. a shelt ontowhich the sand from said ciute is delivered, and means "for feeding sandfrom said shelf into said feed pipe.

7. in mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing, formed with a delivery opening, means forsupplying sand to said casing, means acting on the sand flowing throughsaid opening to feed it to said sanding mechanism, and means for varyingthe size of said opening.

8. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing, formed with a delivery opening, means forsupplying sand to said casing, a shelf onto which the sand flows fromsaid opening. and means acting on thesand on said shelf to feed it tosaid sanding mechanism.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing, formed with a delivery opening. means forsupplying sand to said casing, a trough onto which the sand flows fromsaid opening, and means acting on the sand on said trough to feed itfrom the opposite ends thereof to said sanding mechanism.

10. in mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing formed with a delivery opening, means forsupplying sand to said casing, a trough onto which the sand flowsthrough said opening, and a reciprocating member acting on the sand onsaid trough to feed it therefrom to said sanding mechanism.

11. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing, iiormed with a delivery opening, means forsupplying sand to said casing, a trough onto which the sand flows fromsaid opening, and a reciprocating member acting on the sand on saidtrough to teed it iirom the opposite ends thereof to said sand ingmechanism.

12. in mechanism or the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, oii a cat ng formed with two delivery openmeans tor supplyingsand to said casing, a plate for controlling one of said openings, meansacting on the sand flowing throughthe other opening to feed it to saidsanding mechanism, and devices for adjusting said feed means.

18. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, oi? a casing formed with two delivery openi1 gs, means forsupplying sand to said casing, plate for controlling one of saidopenings, means acting on the sand flowing tirough the other opening tofeed it to said. sanding mechanism, means for varying size of the lastmentioned opening, and devices for adiusting said teed means.

i l. in mechanism of the class described. the combination with a sandingmechanism. o t a casing. formed with. a delivery openit-ig. means forsupplying sand to said casing. a trough onto which sand flowing throughsaid opening accumulates, a rock sh att, a pusher carried by said shaftand arranged to engage the sand on the trough and feed it therefrom tosaid sanding mechanism, and means tor rocking said shaft. I

15. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism. of a casing, formed with two delivery openings, means forsupplying sand to s infeasing, a plate for controlling one of s id.openings, and means acting on the sand flowing through the other openingto "feed it to said sanding mechanism.

16. in mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing, formed with two delivery openings. means forsupplying sand to said casing, 21 plate for controlling one of saidopenings, means acting on the sand flowing through the other opening tofeed it to said sanding mechanism, and means for varying the sis Te ofthe last mentioned opening. i

17. In mechanism of the class described. the combination with a sandingmechanism, ot a casing, ermed with two delivery openings, means forsupplying sand to said casingyand means arranged between and acting onthe sand flowing through said openings to feed it to said sandingmechanism. 4

18. In mechanism of the class described. the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing, formed with two delivery openings, means torsupplying sand to said casing, a shelf on which the sand flowing throughsaid openings accui'nulates,

and means the sand to discharge it from said shell? for delivery to saidsanding mechanism.

the combination with v of casing, formed with a plurality of de-.

19. In mechanism of the class described,

the combination with a'sanding mechanism and a pair of sand feed pipesconnected thereto,.of a casing, formed with a delivery opening, meansfor supplying sand to said,

her to discharge it from the opposite ends thereof. I

20. In mechanism of the class described,

the combination with a sanding mechanism and a pair of sand fee-d pipesconnected thereto, of a casing, formed with a delivery opening, meansfor supplying sand to said casing, a receiving member on which sandflowing through said opening accumulates, the opposite ends of saidreceiving member being disposed in operative relationship to thereceiving ends of said pipes, means acting on the sand on said receivingmember to discharge it from the opposite ends thereof. and meansforvarying the size of said delivery opening. V

21. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, and a pair of sand feed pipes connected thereto, of a casing,formed with a plurality of delivery openings, means for supplying sandto said casing, a receiving member on which the sand flowing throughsaid openings accumulates, the opposite ends of said receiving memberbeing disposed in operative relation to the receiving ends of saidpipes, means engaging the sand on saidreceiving member to discharge itfrom the opposite ends thereof, and means for varying the size of saidopenings.

22. In mechanism of the class described, a sanding mechanism,

livery openings, means for supplying sand to said casing, a receivingmember on which the sand flowing through said openings accumulates, andmeans movable longitudinally of said member and engaging the sandthereon to discharge it from said member for delivery to said sandingmechanism.

23. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism, of a casing formed with a pair of delivery openings, meansfor supplying sand to said casing, a receiving member on which the sandflowing through said openings accumulates, a rock shaft arranged betweensaid openings, a member carried by said shaft and arranged to engage thesand on said receiving member to discharge it therefrom, and means forrocking said shaft.

24.. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine having a mold push-out and a sanding mechanpipes, and means Iacting on the sand on said receiving memopening, means for ism, of acasing formedwitli a pair of de-\ livery opening-s, means for supplyingsand to said casing, a-receiving member on which the sand flowingthrough said openings accumulates, a rock shaft arranged between said.openings, a member carried by said shaft and arranged to engage the sandon said receiving member to discharge it therefrom, and connectionsbetween said mold pushout and said shaft for rocking the latter.

25. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine having a mold push out anda sanding mecha nism, of. a vcasingcasing, a receiving member on which the sand flowing through saidopening accumulates, a shaft, a member carried bysaid shaft and arrangedto engage the sand on said receiving member to discharge it therefrom,and connections between said mold push out and said shaftforoperatingithe latter, said connections comprising an armcarried b saidshaft and a tappet on said mold push out for operating said arm.

26.'In mechanism of the class described,

the combination with a brick machine havformed with a delivery supplyingsand to said inga mold push out and a sandingmecha nism, of a casing.opening, means for casing, a receiving memb sand flowing through saidformedw-ith a delivery opening accumulates, a rock shaft,- a membercarried by said shaft and arranged to engage the sand on said receivingmember to discharge it therefrom, and 'COIIHGCUO-HS' between said. moldpush out and said shaft for rockingthe lat-,7

ter, said connections comprising an arm carried by said shaft and a pairof tappets on said mold push out for operating said arm.

27. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a sandingmechanism. of a casing, formed with a plurality of delivery openings,means for supplying sand to said casing, a receiving member arranged toreceive sand flowing through one of said openings, valve devices forseparately controlling the flow of sand through said openings, and meansengaging the sand accumulating onsaid receiving member to dischargesupplying nd to said 9x57 er on which theit therefrom for delivery tosaid sanding mechanism.

28. In mechanism of the class described, e

the combination with a sanding mechanism, of a feed pipe therefor, acasing formed with a pair of openings one of which is ar ranged todischarge sand into said pipe, a valve member for closing thelastmentioned opening, a receiver on through the other opening accumulates,said receiver having a discharge end operatively connected with saidpipe, and meansfor dis-- charging sand from said receiver into saidpipe.

29. In mechanism of the class described,

which sand flowing opening, a receiver on which with a pair of openingsone of which is arranged to discharge sand receiver on which sandflowing through the other opening accumulates, said receiver having adischarge end operatively connected with said pipe, means for discha "ngsand from said receiver into said pipe,and

independently movable devices for closing the said openings.

31. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine and a sanding mechanism therefor; of a source of sand supply, aconduit leading into the chamber of said sanding mechanism, mechanism.having a movable element engaging sand from said source of supply fordischarging it into said conduit, and connections between an operatingelement of said brick machine and the movable element of saiddischarging mechanism for operating the said movable element.

32. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine having step by step mold feeding mechanism into said pipe, a

and a sanding mechanism for sanding said molds, of means for feedingsubstantially predetermined amounts of sand successively to said sandingmechanism and means con nected with said mold feeding mechanism foractuating said sand feeding mechanism.

33. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine, including means for feeding brick molds one after the othertherethrough and sanding mechanism for sanding said molds, of means forsupplying predetermined substantially measured quantities of sand stepbystep to different portions of said mold. sanding mechanism.

34. In. mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine, in cluding means for feeding brick molds one after the othertherethrough and sanding mechanism for sanding said molds, of meansactuated by said. brick mold feeding mechanism for supplyingpredetermined substantially measured quantities of sand step by step todifferent portions of said mold sanding mechanism.

35. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a brickmachine, including means for feeding brick molds one after the othertherethrough and sanding mechanism for sanding said molds, of means forsupplying substantially predetermined quantities of sand to said sandingmechanism actuated by said mold feeding means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of a witness.

HENRY W. B. GRAHAM. Witness:

J. F. ATEN.

